The Message

            So I’m coming to the end of The Kite Runner, and realizing that it is time to make an assessment on the meaning of the work as a whole. There are so many themes that develop as the book moves along. For example, loyalty, fear, and love play major roles in the progression of the story. None of these aspects fully characterize the meaning of the work in it’s entirety. All of these themes come together in order to form a major message. For me, the main idea is as follows: no matter how terrible of a mistake you make there is always opportunity to do the right thing.

            In the beginning of the book Amir watches as his loyal friend/half brother, Hassan, as Assef rapes him. Amir makes it clear that his lack of action haunts him even in his adulthood, but clearly doesn’t understand that there is still opportunity to make up for his cowardice. When Rahim Khan summons Amir to Pakistan, he does so with the promise that, “there is a way to be good again (192).” Rahim explains to Amir that Hassan was killed by the Taliban after refusing to leave the house of Baba. He thinks that he has lost his chance of redemption until Rahim Khan informs him that Hassan’s son still resides in Kabul. Even though Hassan is dead, and Amir will never have the opportunity to apologize for his lack of loyalty, he can still make things right by saving Hassan’s son.

            Amir travels to Kabul despite his best judgment in order to retrieve Hassan’s heir, Sohrab. In order to obtain Sohrab, Amir has to “fight” Assef. Assef has turned into the leader of the Taliban group in the Kabul area. He is a heartless and ruthless man. He says that if Amir kills him in hand-to-hand combat he may take the child with him and walk out the front door. Amir, no doubt, considers the possibility of leaving without the child, but instead decides to finally stand up for his late friend Hassan. Amir takes a terrible beating, but is able to (I don’t want to spoil the story) escape with Sohrab. Amir wanted to run, rather than stay and fight his old enemy. He even shared that he is so terrified that he, “[has] a sudden urge to urinate (278).” But he knows that saving Sohrab is the only way to repay his old friend. Amir finally stands his ground and redeems himself for his lack of loyalty towards his old friend Hassan.

Here is my conclusion, a mistake is only becomes shameful if no good comes from it. In other words, if you make a mistake, do not burry in the deepest part of your soul as Amir tried to do. Instead, it is important to move forward and do what you need to do in order to make up for that mistake. There is always opportunity for redemption in one way or another, and it is important to take that opportunity. Finally, Amir goes out of his way in order to, “be good again” and to repay his debts to his friend Hassan. Through Amir’s incredibly emotional journey the message that it is never too late to do the write thing emerges as the major theme of the book.  Until next time.

Nolan “the breeze” Burgundy